Change of Name

Oh I almost forgot - The name Miss Vintages House of Pain is gone. As all of you will know I named it that because I thought it was going to cause me pain and heart ache and it seemed quite fitting at the time. However I have received more than one "interesting" comment from people thinking it might be a different type of house of pain. So I thought even though the actual blog address has house of pain when they see my new title "Miss Vintages Ivory Tower" they may just decide they have the wrong idea.... if my blogs about flooring and bamboo didn't already give it away.

Hope you all like it.

xox
Miss V

Bamboo Madness

Now I have shown you the above picture as something I really want in my house. But to be totally honest, the idea of bamboo scares me slightly. I know if you get the wrong species it will destroy everything growing everywhere and be totally uncontrolled.

So I have done a fair bit of research and found two amazing types that will work perfectly in the space near my front door plus give me the privacy I am looking for without paying an arm and a leg for a high fence or wall.

These are the two I am thinking of.

Bambusa lako

Common Name: Timor Black Bamboo

Size: 12m x 10cm

Temp: Minus 3 degrees C

Origin: Timor Islands

Type: Clumping

Chocolate black canes with lime green stripes, a truly beautiful bamboo. This bamboo will do best in a sheltered position. Direct exposure to the afternoon sun on the black canes will cause some ‘sun-bleaching’ to occur. For this reason it is best protected from direct afternoon sun exposure. The canes are erect and really stand out among the stunning lime green leaves. A fantastic specimen bamboo in any garden. Prefers a partly shaded position.

Bambusa Ventricosa

Common Name: Buddha’s Belly Bamboo

Size: 6m x 5cm

Temp: Minus 9 degrees C

Origin: China

Type: Clumping

It is said that when this bamboo is stressed the internodes become closer and swollen just like a ‘Buddha’s Belly’. This bamboo does very well in poor soil conditions and is quite drought tolerant when established. Prefers a sunny or partly shaded position.

Personally I am drawn to the Timor Black. I love the glossy black texture against the green leaves but I will go down to the bamboo grower place (I was going to say breeder but that's not right) What about Bamboo specialist and discuss with him first.

Looking forward to my bamboo screen - let me tell you!

Still Talking Floors

Ok - so my favorite and probably not so practical is parquetry floors. My second options is stone, nice glossy stone which just looks heavenly....

I also want to continue this from the entry portico like the pics all the way through to the alfresco however i am thinking with out site it will be Matt not glossy?

What do you think? Stone or Wood.

Thinking About Finishes

Well I am starting to budget for finishing, I know probably getting ahead of myself but still and I was thinking about flooring, what do I want..... how much do we need and the all important one ... how much is it going to cost.

On the weekend we went to the Subiaco Home Based Expo (A brilliant idea with lots of suppliers all in the same place) and fell truly madly deeply in love with parquetry floors.

Are they not the most heavenly thing ever???

Find of the Week

Well I was wandering through Myer today trying desperately not to buy anything and I have found the most amazing new product.

Its a brand called Fringe and its so pretty. Its almost vintage but still modern and just .... heaven.

I brought two pieces from their Christmas collection

but I am also in love with all their other stuff.

A Different Way of Thinking

In my last house everything on my walls was perfectly aligned and perfectly square, it made things easy on the eye and it just felt right to me. Saying that I am desperately in love with the way these people seem to have just thrown all the alignment and even numbers out the window to create something quite interesting.

I can imagine people stopping by for coffee and getting captured by the different displays and not quite making it to the kitchen.

Could you see yourself stopping to look at these amazing picture walls?

Adding a touch of class to my drinking

I will admit - after a long day torturing engineers I like coming home, kick off my heels and sit somewhere lovely with a long glass of scotch and coke (diet of course). So in my head I have been thinking and scheming of a way to make this simple little night time ritual something elegant and more special.

Here is where my story is going, walking through the markets on Sunday I spot the most amazing crystal decanter, its square so a little bit more modern and its perfect. Oh and did I mention the price $30!!!

So I am going to put my scotch in the decanter and it will be lovely. On my way home I stop into my grandmothers house to show her my amazing find. Only to be told she has 5 of these and I am welcome to them all. So I now have 6 different equally lovely decanters which will house not only my scotch but gin for G&T's on a Sunday, plus a whole bunch of other much used liqueurs.

What do you think, are they not pure heaven! (I only photographed 3 because the other 3 were already wrapped and ready to be boxed for a year)